The television chef Clarissa Dickson-Wright and a leading race horse trainer today pleaded guilty to hunting offences.

Dickson-Wright, from Midlothian, Scotland, and Sir Mark Prescott, of Newmarket, Suffolk, admitted attending two hare-coursing events in north Yorkshire in March 2007.

Neither defendant appeared in person at Scarborough magistrates court for the private prosecution, which was brought by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

The court heard that Dickson-Wright, who found fame in the television cookery series Two Fat Ladies, and Prescott admitted attending one hare-coursing event on 2 March 2007 near Nunnington, and another the following day near Amotherby.

Hare coursing, in which hares are pursued by greyhounds, was banned by the Hunting Act 2004.

The court heard that the events were organised by the Yorkshire Greyhound Field Trialling club (YGFTC) and were made up of 46 trials, each involving two dogs chasing hares, over the two days.

John Cooper, prosecuting for the IFAW, described the events as "significant and concerted".

"During the course of both these events, the dogs were muzzled but that does not stop the damage and harm to the wildlife they chase and harry," he said.

"What we have is a sophisticated, large and well-attended gathering which was consciously trying, by the methods it used – muzzling and the use of the gun in particular – to blur the distinction and avoid prosecution under the Hunting Act."

In July, the three-times champion jumps trainer Peter Easterby and Major John Shaw were found guilty of permitting land to be used for the hare-coursing event. They were also convicted of attending it.

Both denied the charges and claimed they were not aware that what was taking place on their land was illegal. In mitigation for Prescott, Stephen Welford said his client was invited by the YGFTC, which believed it was running a legal and "above-board" event. He said the club sought advice from a firm of solicitors and leading counsel and received insurance.

A police officer attended the event on the first day but left a short time later. "The events were not hidden," Welford said.

Barry Warburton, for Dickson-Wright, said his client had also been invited and thought the event was legal. Neither defendant had any previous convictions.